QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Monday condemned the brutal murder of a man and a woman in Degari. He said that they were not married and condemned the killings as unacceptable under any circumstances.
Addressing a press conference in Quetta, he confirmed that tribal leader Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai was arrested without delay, and so far, 11 suspects have been taken into custody. He added that more arrests will follow, and all involved will be presented in court.
He said the incident first came to his attention through social media, after which immediate action was taken.
Bugti revealed that the murdered woman was the mother of five, and the slain man also had children.
“The state stands firmly with the victims and that the government is ensuring transparent investigations. The DSP of the area has been suspended for failing to inform authorities promptly, along with the local special branch official,” the chief minister added.
Bugti declared that no one has the right to take a life and vowed to seek court convictions for all those responsible. He firmly opposed the concept of tribal jirgas, stating, “We will not support any extra-constitutional system. Justice must prevail through legal means.”
He also acknowledged receiving a call from PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari regarding the incident and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the vulnerable and punishing the guilty.
CM Bugti noted that when police raided the area, male suspects fled while women resisted the operation. He urged the public not to be swayed by viral content but to understand the facts and the state’s firm stance in ensuring justice.
BHC CJ takes notice of incident
Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Rozi Khan on Monday took notice of the killing of a couple in Degari, who were shot dead in an apparent case of honour killing.
The chief justice summoned the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and the Inspector General of Police on July 22 to explain the matter.
The inhumane killing was captured in a viral video circulating on social media. The footage, which depicts a group of men escorting a man and a woman into a desert area in Balochistan before fatally shooting them, has sparked widespread outrage, with activists and political leaders condemning it as an ‘honour’ killing.
Meanwhile, a judicial magistrate in Quetta has ordered the exhumation of the bodies. The exhumation is being carried out in the presence of the magistrate, in compliance with court orders.
An FIR has been registered at the Hanna Urak Police Station. At least 20 suspects have been arrested so far in the case.
The incident—where a man and woman were shot dead in the name of honour—surfaced through a video that went viral a few days ago.
Condemnations pour in
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari strongly condemned the Degari incident, calling the perpetrators “beasts” undeserving of any leniency. He expressed confidence that those behind the killings would be held accountable soon. He urged the Balochistan government to treat this as a test case, describing it as an act of “gender terrorism.”
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif posted the harrowing video on X, addressing the people of Balochistan. Highlighting the rise in militancy, he urged locals to speak out against the systemic injustices around them. He emphasized that the real oppressors were not migrants or workers from other provinces, but their own, referencing a recent deadly bus attack in Kalat.
PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman also denounced the killings on X, calling them an “unforgivable crime.” She asserted that denying someone the right to marry is a fundamental human rights violation, and condemned killings based on tribal rulings as deeply shameful.
